Even when they were winning on Sunday, the
Panthers looked like they expected to lose,
Jeff Darlington writes.
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"Obviously he's trying to put a lot of things on his back, and that's human nature," Jordan told Tom Sorensen of the Charlotte Observer last week. "Sometimes when you expect so many great things, you want to carry that burden yourself. And it's virtually impossible.

"He's got to look at himself in the mirror," Jordan continued. "Every leader in any scenario always must look himself in the mirror and say, 'Can I do more?' or 'What can I do to enhance the scenario with my teammates to pull them along?' or do whatever I can to try to make the situation better."

"I think Michael Jordan is ... an outlet for me to talk to," Newton said. "And everybody knows his skill set of what he brought to the game of basketball and how great he played at a high level for years to come. So I'm very close to him, and I have an ongoing relationship with him and will continue to have it. So anything he has said I need to do, my ears are open. And you know I'm going to be willing to do it."

I don't really even know what to add here. But when the greatest player in NBA history has a "close" relationship with one of the most dynamic young stars in the NFL, it should be noted and recorded for posterity. I feel better already.